Black Ice

To Klinoa: Hey there, Klinoa. Nice to hear from you again! I'm a huge WWE fan myself. Been one since 15. Expect Kyle to use the word 'jabroni' a lot. It's sort of his favorite word to call people. Yep, Freedom Force is going to guard Sidney and Dazzler. You can bet that the meeting between Sidney and the 'new' Iceman will not be pretty! Enjoy the new chapter!

To todd fan: Hey there todd fan! I read your new fic "Welcome to the Enchanted Land" and the new chapters of "X-Men: Evolution: The Musical" and "Little Shop of Mutants", and I loved them! I don't think the drug references were the reason the Magic Roundabout never crossed the pond. You also captured Bobby's anguish really well. Yeah, I thought the Commander Cold thing was good for a laugh myself. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for more chapters of "Welcome to the Enchanted Land", "X-Men: Evolution, the Musical", "Little Shop of Mutants", and "Slugs and Snails!"!

To Red Witch: Hey there, Red Witch! Nice to hear from you again! Oh, you bet it's going to be fun. Yeah, I can imagine the team would be shocked if they learned the real reason why Bobby quit the X-Men. You can bet that a confrontation between Bobby and Sidney will not be good. Enjoy the new chapter, and I can hardly wait for new chapters of "Valor, Venom, and Other Stuff", and "Memories Are Made of This"!

To Aaron: Hey there, Aaron! Nice to hear from you again! Yeah, Bobby's past has come back to haunt him. And yeah, Sid and Alison are going to appear. You can bet that Sid and Bobby will not get along very well. Yep, I decided to use Countess Fontaine as their handler. She was a character in the Nick Fury comics. Yeah, I remember that movie with David Hasselhoff. It wasn't that good, but I agree, Lisa Rinna made a great Valentina (drools). Thunderbolt accidentally injured Freedom Force's last handler. And yeah, Freedom Force has no idea what kind of wildcard they have with Bobby. Enjoy the new chapter!

To Raliena: Hey there Rae! It shouldn't be too long now. Enjoy the new chapter!

Disclaimer: todd fan owns the character appearing here. Anyway, here's your quote: "I've been a frickin' evil doctor for thirty frickin' years!" - Mike Myers as Dr. Evil, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Chapter 10: Confrontation

Outside the Staples Arena, Los Angeles

The Staples Arena was a bustle with activity. Los Angeles was the latest stop on Dazzler's tour, and the fans came out in the thousands. One shadow was watching from the top of another building. The shadow wasn't really interested in the main event. He was more interested in the opening act. The shadow's yellow eyes narrowed.

In a dressing room

"Man, I am so excited for this!" Sidney Cagney grinned as she put on some light eye shadow.

"Yeah." Alison Blaire agreed, brushing her hair. Sidney and Ali had become good friends since Alison invited Sidney to tour with her. Sidney was becoming a very popular opening act. "No matter how many shows I do, I still get so excited before them." She noticed a letter next to Sidney. "Reading the latest news by your boyfriend, huh?"

"Yeah, he writes all the time. He's such a sweetie." Sidney grinned, reading the letter. "He talks about how much he misses me and he keeps me up on news." She read a part. "According to this, Xavier gave up the search for Drake."

"The ice-maker? Didn't he quit the X-Men?" Dazzler asked. Sidney nodded.

"Yeah. He just up and disappeared four months ago. Xavier was never able to find him." Sidney sighed. "Guy was nice, but he was so goofy."

"I never really got to meet him." Alison shrugged. "Anyway, I can't wait to meet my audience and sing my songs."

"Even though some people may find your musical styling a little…unappeasing." A voice said. Sid and Ali turned around and saw Ace Starr leaning on the far wall of the room, in costume, arms crossed and a smirk on his face. "Hello, ladies."

"Who are you?" Alison and Sidney asked. Ace produced a badge. "Starr. Ace Starr." The feral grinned in an English accent. "Personally, I prefer Van Halen and AC/DC to your stuff."

"To each, their own." Ali smiled.

"I'm from Freedom Force. We heard about your little mutant stalker problem." Ace replied. He walked to the door. "It's cool." The rest of Freedom Force walked in. The singers and the superheroes introduced themselves.

"Your manager asked for the best. He's really paranoid, isn't he?" Fontaine chuckled.

"Yeah, he is." Sidney agreed.

"So…" Terrell smirked at Alison. "You single, hot stuff?" Alison chuckled.

"I'm not much of a dater. Sorry." Ali smiled.

"Shot down again, Terrell!" John laughed.

"Shut up, Thunderbird!" Terrell snapped. Kyle pointed at Sidney.

"Hey!" The electrokinetic piped up. "The new guy says that you're a real alley cat." Sidney's eyes widened in shock.

This guy reminds me of Jamie. Only a lot mouthier. Sidney mentally noted. "New guy? Who? And why would he say I was an alley cat?"

"It fits." A familiar voice snarled. Sidney turned to the door. She at first didn't recognize the figure in the blue, white, and silver costume with the brown hair in a ponytail, but once he removed his blue glasses, Sidney immediately recognized him.

"Bobby?" Sidney asked.

"You got that right, Sidney Cagney." Bobby growled. "It's me."

Where the heck has he been? And what's with the attitude? Sidney thought. "Bobby…where have you been these past few months?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Bobby sneered.

Uh oh… Karma thought. Bobby's been objecting to this whole thing and I think I can see why. He does not look happy to see her. Maybe they dated.

"Can I speak to you in private, Bobby?" Sidney asked, going outside.

"Fine by me." Bobby shrugged. The two mutants walked outside into another dressing room.

"What was that all about?" Sidney hissed at Bobby. "Calling me an alley cat? What was that for?"

"It fit." Bobby sneered. "Think about it…" He started counting off on his fingers. "Todd, Duncan, Piotr, Morph, Todd again…man, you get around. Messing around with a few roadies on the side too?" Bobby smirked. It took every ounce of self-control Sidney had to avoid slashing Bobby right in the face.

"You've changed. In a lot of ways." Sidney noticed. "Where have you been? Xavier was looking for you for quite a long time."

"That cue-ball was looking for me?" Bobby snorted. "Oh, I guess he does care then." Sidney could not believe it. Four months ago, a brokenhearted Bobby Drake disappeared off the face of the Earth in Bayville, and now she finds him here in LA, packing a very cold attitude.

"How'd you get so cold, Bobby?" Sidney asked. "It's because of Elizabeth, wasn't it? You left because of her." Bobby roared and threw an icicle into the wall.

"Don't you EVER mention that tramp's name around me!" Bobby roared. "I would've given that redneck wench the world, and she decides to go with Lucas Xavier, who just happens to be the entire population of Hoboken, New Jersey, all in one mind!" He formed a spike of ice. "If I ever lay eyes on her again…"

"Have you gone nuts?" Sidney wondered.

"A little bit." Bobby smirked. The smirk creeped Sidney out a little. "I kind of like it."

"What about the X-Men?" Sidney wondered. "They wondered where you went. Where were you?" Bobby's face turned back to stone.

"I don't need them knowing where I am. And I don't need anyone knowing where I have been." Bobby grumbled as he left the room. "As far as I am concerned…the X-Men are dead to me." The ice-maker left the room. Sidney blinked.

Oh dear God… The feline girl said. What did this to him? Why has he become so cold? And why do I get the feeling he's going to hurt somebody…and he'll not care?

Next: The show starts, and an old enemy returns!